Hi, Can I use a prototype bay steering box in a late bay without modifying the mounts? Are the mounting bolt positions/holes the same. Understand the gearing is a bit better in the late bay box, but I have a good spare early box.
They are slightly different, the front two holes line up, the rear top is about 1/4 hole off and the lower about 1/2 hole. All 4 are sleeved inside the chassis so it's not just a case of opening up holes. You also need the right spreader plate to fit on the chassis opposite side to the box. That out of the way you would be crazy to swap a late box for an early one - the worm and peg early boxes are absolute sh1te. They wear like beggery and less turns make manoeuvring harder work. Fitting late boxes to early vans makes sense (I've done it) but going the other way is madness. Good early boxes are few and far between, I'd sell it.
I'm part way through painting my boat but it's raining so I can't do anything today. Twiddling thumbs here until tomorrow.
I agree with @Zed . I have an erly bay with a very worn early box. Luckily I have a recon late box waiting for install and a litesteer adapter plate. The only possible reason for me to go with an early box is to keep the bus as original as possible, but putting and early box in a late there is no excuse, especially considering late boxes are more available, cheaper, and better.
Late box onto an prototype bay is like adding power steering if you were used to the early box. Soooo different. You might want to try jus that first. You know the late box will foul the inner deformation panel? It will need a big dent adding to make room.
Contact N2 engineering on Facebook they do reconditioned late/early boxes And are always asking for early boxes, you can also WhatsApp them. Sent from my SM-G981B using Tapatalk
Yes the dent is coming. I was prepared to cut but Graham at MEB told me he usually just puts a dent in the sill. BTW - MEB also recondition boxes.
I have a reconditioned t2 rhd steering box for you (In Australia) I do this for kombi club here not to pricey to send it over to the mother land
rstucke - impressed, looks quality. Takes me back to school lathing and forgetting to remove the chuck keys on startup.
yep I have a marmite load of photos of how to do it yourself if you have the equipment There's been a few start ups here in Aus since(Victoria and Adelaide) based on what I've posted. Most here were under the impression these boxes were throw away (shame) I'm retired and did this because I was rebuilding my Bay window which had a dodgy steering box. When I joined the kombi club forum I was surprised by the lack of steering box repairers. I did a thread to show how (which I can do here if you good people want) which has caused me more work than I ever needed or wanted. Any way I've reconditioned over 100 boxes but these days are mostly for Retro RV and Kombi Keg (google them, you'd be surprised at what they do although with Subaru motors) cheers Rick
I'm sure there'd be interest on this forum for a how to. I ended up stripping and rebuilding my baja steering box as it was leaking oil and was surprised how little is actually inside it.
By the way The Aussie forum went permanently down, nearly everything was lost including an extensive amount of my technical stuff A new forum has emerged (which has a long way to go) Kombi Club Australia
